I'm 23 Now

09.16.12 with Lunch (Bigby’s) and Movie (The Mistress) :] (Taken with Instagram at Bo’s Coffee)

He spent the whole day with me from start to finish. :) Thank you boyfriend. I quote my facebook post:

First ever birthday without my family and hopefully the last. Thank you boyfriend Elwinski Managbanag Jr. for making me feel all special the whole day and filling in the emptiness and loneliness I’ve been carrying inside. I love you :) And I miss you family! Maymay Yao Ang Suzanne Sanchez Suzette Ang Jin Ang and Miggy and Phoebe too. :)

my God is faithful and my God is good. :)

Cheers to TWENTY[23]THREE. :)

That night, after my birthday, 09.17.12 around 3AM, I started writing a 4-paged stationary letter to my boyfriend. I really felt special that day. :) 

Happy Birthday to Me

I am twenty-three years old now. No use denying it. First birthday without my family. :,(

CHRISTMAS EVE 2010

My mother woke me up for the occasion, I fell asleep because I was tired from the 23rd's tradition with friends. So we went down, and there was something more homey to this Christmas eve's feel and something sad as well. This will most likely be our last Christmas here in our home, in a long while.

Things I got from group exchanging gifts:

• FORLAN Class: from Paul - native sun/moon necklace
• PSITS Christmas Party at Mang Inasal: from Marnie - a cow stuff toy bat

Presents from other people:

• Tita Dinah - hanky
• Chipstar - a thoughtful Christmas card and a very cute cow memo pad holder :)
• Elwin, the boyfriend - a 4GB flash drive so cute, "crystalized with Swarovski Elements" and it says its waterproof

And after the opening of gifts, we took lots of photos. Dad and mom wanted photos of our living room and dining area in different angles so that when we fly off to America, we remember how home looks like. We ate desserts and enjoyed the evening with our two maids and two aunts. :)

Even though the gifts were fewer (although there are still other gifts on the way from other relatives), Christmas eve was still heartfelt for me. And just a few days ago did a fact hit me; it hit me, I pondered, and later grew grateful for the fact that:

I've never spent a Christmas or New Year 

away from the family or away from home.

Thank you Jesus for that. :) I didn't really think about how common it was for others to spend Christmas away from family and away from home, not because they want to but they have to. My friend Princess is at work now since she has to work, I'm chatting with her a bit to keep her company.

Christmas is a time to bond with family and friends, think and ponder about all our relationships, especially our relationship with our God.

Happy Birthday Jesus Christ! :)

Very thankful,

-allie

//photos to follow

Cheeseburger Deluxe

Today I went to the dentist for my dentist appointment that has been put off for almost 2 weeks now. I have a new wire on my braces now, more pressure on my teeth. I have color green rubbers now. 

Today I was visited by my lovely boyfriend. He brought for me cheezeburger deluxe meal from McDonald's. Thank you for snacks! :) And we streamed The Switch online. But he had to leave early since it's also his father's birthday.

//waiting for boyf to upload photo 

Happy birthday Tito Elwin Sr.! :) God bless you always. I wish you good health, happiness, and a peaceful heart.

-allie

21: Birthday Entry

September 16: The day I turned 21

So I was late for my lecture class but I made it in time for our laboratory. My friend Herard was text messaging me that he was outside waiting for me. I went out and thought he had something important in mind, and since it was almost time for lunch, I just got out of class altogether. We bumped into my boyfriend Elwin, he seemed like he was grasping his breath from running around everywhere- that should have given it away, but it didn't. We walked to the office, since I had to drop something off for Kat (photocopy notes I borrowed). And as I entered, SURPRISE!

They were all on one side, cramped together. It seemed like they were anticipating my entrance. There was a lovely chocolate cake on the table, but I was too nervous, I didn't get to read the dedications on it. I was a bit dizzy and shy, blushing from the surprise and the birthday song they sang. 

Red ribbon chocolate cake from boyfriend :)

Friends who were in on it

Later I found out it was my boyfriend who planned the whole thing. Sweet Elwin. He ran from school to Country  Mall more than two times. He spent for the cake, the plate, fork, cups, and sodas. It has got to be the sweetest surprise anyone has ever given me. :) And now you see, one of the many reasons, why I love him. 

I look all messed up and he looks stressed out,

but I love this photo :)

After that, we grabbed lunch at Matia's with our friend Lyndon. We then went to Country Mall, Lyndon decided to go to school ahead. I decided to buy a birthday palabok for some friends to eat. After dropping off the birthday palabok, I got busy with my circuits diagram. I also decided to buy a smaller birthday palabok for my teachers. I'm sure Mrs. Manlosa got to eat it, but I'm not sure with the other teachers I addressed it to since I never heard from them about it. 


Another good news that day, I passed the Data Structures 2 long exam. It's not a high score to boast, but I'm thankful I passed it. It's not the easiest subject in the world.

We had a general meeting for PSITS that night. At around 8pm I looked over to the teachers and Mrs. Manlosa read my mind. I was going to ask to be excused since I had dinner plans with the family, but before they let me off the hook, they once again sang a happy birthday song to me and I was embarrassed. I hid behind a friend sitting on an arm chair. Such a loser move- I know! But I'm thankful of how thoughtful they were. 

We dropped Harrison and Francis off at Ayala then Elwin and I headed to UNO, at Waterfront for my birthday dinner. I celebrated it with my mom, dad, sister, boyfriend, uncle Boyet, and auntie Iris. They were here at Cebu for the week. 


Thank you to my family for the lovely dinner! :)

All of us for my 21st birthday dinner :)

Gifts I got on my birthday: 

2k is from my grandmother

$40 from my uncle Boyet and auntie Iris 

the iPhone that came earlier, I consider it a gift from my aunt and unlce

and a letter that came at 5am, from a stranger

About that letter: 

It was the first gift I got that day.It was a handmade birthday card with a GUI as a front, and when you open it, the Java codes to that GUI is  written in it. My yaya Violy said that someone was at the gate at 5am, she heard the doorbell. But when she got to the gate, no one was there. I'm not sure where the letter was left, I'm guessing at the mail box. Although there was no name, no sign of who it was from, I'm sure it was from my good old buddy Theodore "Choodur" Terdes. :) So much effort making that birthday card, thank you! 

Also, that night Elwin slept over at our place. He slept at the guess room. He stayed over to finish my circuits requirement. <3 Sorry I'm no good with that myself. And thank you for everything. I love you to bits. :)

-allie

Thank you again for the wonderful surprise! :)